Sleep quality and immune functions in rheumatoid arthritis patients with and without major depression.

The purpose of this study was to determine the discriminative factors between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with and without major depression (MD). We assessed subjective sleep quality, pain, and cell-mediated immune functions in RA patients with (n = 20) and without (n = 20) MD by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), visual analogue scale (VAS), and fluorescein isothiocyanat (FITC) labeled CD3, CD4, CD8, CDI9, CD45, CD56, and HLADR T monoclonal antibodies by flow cytometry. We found that the RA patients with MD had significantly higher pain level, poorer sleep equality, higher HDRS points, and higher HLADR T cell level than those without MD; and that these variables are discriminant factors between patient groups.

Effect of omeprazole on gallbladder contraction in humans.

Background/aims: Omeprazole causes hypergastrinemia because of the effects of prolonged complete suppression of acid secretion and also gastrin has an excitatory effect on gallbladder contraction. Therefore, we investigated the meal-induced gallbladder emptying in healthy subjects receiving omeprazole and compared them to controls.

Methodology: Twenty healthy volunteers participated in this study.

Inhibition of penile erection in rats by a long-acting somatostatin analogue, octreotide (SMS 201-995).

Objective: To assess the effect of a new somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995, octreotide) on erectile function in rats.

Materials And Methods: Animals were fasted and anaesthetized intraperitoneally with pentobarbital. A cannula was placed in the trachea and the femoral vein cannulated for intravenous infusion.